The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-09-28
DOWN TO BUSINESS.

THE HERALD was sincere the other
day when it expressed the hope that a
mutual and satisfactory understanding
would be arrived at between the Union
Pacific Railway Company and its local
patrons. 1t would be better for all con-
cerned if a reasonable arrangement
could be made by which amicable rela-
tons might be maintained; but it
seems that good wishes and wise
counsel can have no influence on the
railway. 1t has not only not granted
the reasonable request of our shippers
for fair treatment, but has not deigned
to return an answer to the Chamber of
Commerce which has been acting in the
matter. This is like the old time
Union Pacific way of doing things.
What are you going to do about it ? is
how complainants have been an
swered in past years, and the
people were compelled to say,
nothing. We had hoped that the
new management would inaugurate
a new and better system of things,
one in which the public would be con-
sidered as being entitled to respectful
consideration, and one in which the
railway people would recognize the
changed condition of affairs as regards
the transportation business. The stu
alton is not as it was a few years ago,
when the Union Pacific Company was
in a position to snub and defy the
community because the latter was
powerless to help itself. Then it was,
patronize the Union Pacific or go out of
business. 1t is so no longer, as that
company will at once be made to
understand. Again, it has only been
recently that our business men were in
a position to act effectively. They
were not united in this matter any
closer than they were socially and
politically; the railway had nothing to
fear, because the fight against it
was made by individuals and
not by a combination of forces.
Now, however, the contest is one in
which practically all our business men
are working harmoniously together,
and the united forces are directed by
an organization which can act for the
whole. If the railway shall persist in
its policy of ignoring the community,
and virtually repeating the chestnut,
What are yeu going to do about it?"
it will now be possible to do something,
and it is very probable tina: something
will be done. That something will be
the withholding of the patronage of
Salt Lake City from the Union Pacific
Railway until such time as the COM
pany shall give respectful attention
and intelligent consideration to the
eity's demand for fair and just
treatment at the hands of the railway.
If the carrying business of the city is
not of enough Importance to the
Union Pacific Railway to warrant an
effort by the company to retain it, all
well and good; the business may be
worth something to rival companies.
Our shippers should learn the facts at
once, and they are taking the popular
course to enIighten themselves.
There will be a mass meeting this
evening at the Chamber of Commerce
hall, to which all shippers are invited. |
We trust that all will attend, and take
part in the proceedings. Whatever may
be agreed upon, let it be the action of
the whole, and then let the community
stand shoulder to shoulder in the effort
to secure the fair treatment for Salt
Lake City and Utah which the Union
Pacific has persistently aud impudently
denied to our great disadvantage and
material loss. 1t must be understood
that this action is not taken for the pur-
pose of helping another company at the
cost of the Union Pacific, but is solely |
IN the interest of the public. The
is one of seIf-interest, self |
protection and self-preservation.